THE SPORTSMAN IN FRANCE. 151 



armed with salutary hints and cautions ; 

 but T can venture to affirm that he will 

 not have exercised his patience by trying 

 his new toy at a given reasonable dis- 

 tance (say forty yards), for the purpose 

 of ascertaining the exact proportion of 

 powder and shot suited to his barrels. 



This, I admit, to a young beginner is 

 a tedious and an unentertaining process, 

 and occasions a vast expenditure of pow- 

 der, shot, and paper ; but I earnestly re- 

 commend the experiment to the young 

 and to the old. In causing the gun to 

 undergo this test, the value of the piece 

 will be materially enhanced by the know- 

 ledge of its powers, which can never be 

 ascertained but by the perseverance of 

 its owner. 



Partridge shooting in the present en- 

 lightened age is reduced to a science, and 

 is as much a game of observation, posi- 

 tion, and tenace, as whist itself. Obser- 



